Top 10: Movie Villains

Number 4

Hans Gruber - Die Hard

Die Hard reinvented the action genre when it came out in 1988. It was a film that refused to fall prey to the idiocy that plagued many of the thrillers hitherto released. The story presents a cat and mouse game where every move is ingenious. The strength of this movie is the bad guy; Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber first appears as a political terrorist but is later revealed as a common thief, albeit a stylish and suave one. He's eager to get his hands on the $600 million worth of bearer bonds in a high-rise's vault. Bruce Willis' John McClane witnesses the man's ruthlessness when he kills hostages, and he's the only man who can stop him.

Best line: "I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane. And since I'm moving up to kidnapping, you should be more polite."

Number 3

Max Cady - Cape Fear

Both versions of this film could have been ordinary. The story is simple enough: An ex-con torments the family of the attorney he believes is responsible for his incarceration. Robert Mitchum's portrayal makes Max Cady a creepy monster whose rage boils under the surface. Robert De Niro was the bad guy in the Martin Scorsese remake and gives me goose bumps every time I watch the film. This modern version makes it clear that Cady is a serial rapist and his overt threats to the Bowden family, especially young Danielle, make for disturbing memories. His tattoos, and especially the violent sex scene at the end of the film, are enough to freeze anyone's blood.

Best line: "Every man... every man has to go through hell to reach paradise."

Number 2

Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Here is a textbook example of a character taking a life of its own. "Hannibal the Cannibal" was first introduced in Thomas Harris' book Red Dragon , which was first adapted to the screen as Manhunter with Brian Cox playing the good doctor. The character was so complex that it gained importance in the sequels ( Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal ). Not only is Anthony Hopkins' Oscar winning performance chilling, the fact that he's a sophisticated genius who lives to prepare gourmet meals out of human flesh is what makes him so truly captivating.

Best line: "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti."

Number 1

Darth Vader - Star Wars trilogy

Darth Vader claims the top spot because of his sheer coolness. This is a guy who used to be good; a fallen Jedi who, in a past life, had sworn to destroy everything he represents. But life was hard on him and he succumbed to the dark side. He has become a scarred man who can only survive by wearing a special mask. By answering only to the Emperor, he's in a position to enforce his will not only on the enemy, but also on his subordinates. He's even willing to cut off the hand of his own Jedi-in-training son when fighting him. David Prowse may have been the man in the costume, but it was the unmistakable voice of James Earl Jones that made this character so frightening.

Best line: "The Force is strong with this one."

honorable mention:

Dr. Evil - Austin Powers series

Okay, so Dr. Evil isn't the true instrument of Armageddon. There's no denying he's a megalomaniac hell-bent on world domination, but he's so inept that even his henchmen have trouble following his orders. Portrayed by Mike Myers, Dr. Evil is a bumbling fool who couldn't steal his way out of a paper bag. When you get down to it, he's the perfect foe for equally incompetent swinging secret agent, Austin Powers.

Best line: "It's Dr. Evil, I didn't spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called 'mister', thank you very much."